American Flyers??

[Flying_Corporal]

I am considering training with American Flyers and was wandering if anyone had any comments about the school.
thanks

 

[stuart716]

it is a good school but expensive. i only dealt with the ones in ft worth and addison and they were pretty good. i would recommend them.

 

[banned username 2]

I am considering training with American Flyers and was wandering if anyone had any comments about the school.
thanks

Don't "wander" too far, you might get lost...

 

[TRLpilot]

i've spoken to a few folks that went to addison and heard mixed comments.

1) they are expensive and all about the money
2) quality of education good
3) they are expensive and all about the money

flying out of addison you are going to get some good experience with a busy airport. the flipside is you are going to be spending a lot of time waiting to depart, flying out to practice areas, and lining up #4 or 5 to land - which goes back to the money thing.

the 3 guys i know that went there wish they new better beforehand and went to an fbo to save a bundle, or in their cases, not be facing the big loans they have now.

 

[wilky10]

I worked for them as an aircraft mechanic for about 2 years and they paid for all of my training. Instrument through CFII. I was a very good experience. They charged me the same price as normal students. I did my training at Pompano Beach location. The instructors know their stuff. Which location are you considering. I might know someone you can talk to about the school.

 

[Thedude]

As a former instructor in the Dallas area, I would have to recommend DO NOT GO to American (F)lyers. The quality of instructors is not really that good. You can find someone just as good and many of the local flight schools.

They try to sell you on flying the larger 172 vs a 152 or whatever at another school. (That one used to crack me up). They tried to justify by saying its take more skill to handle the bigger a/c and thats what the airlines are looking for.

They demand a large cash depsoit up front. What they dont tell you is that if you decided to quit their school there is a penalty and you will forfeit at least HALF of your money. Be wary of any school that WILL NOT let you pay as you go.

They interns are treated better than the instrcutors and actually make more. That is a long story and I wont go into it now.

Just take my work for it and shop around a little bit...a lot better can be found for cheaper.

 

[cale42]

I've known a couple people that went to American Flyers and did some training there myself and everyone I know has generally liked it. No doubt it is expensive but usually you get awfully good training, but like anywhere it depends to an extent on the individual instructors..

Unless things have changed drastically though they DO NOT make you pay any amount up front. That was one of the things I liked about the place, no committment to sign no guaranteed money to put down..very few of the big flight schools do that these days... contrary to what thedude said you definitely can pay as you go.


cale

 

[flyinlow67]

I worked with a girl who went to flyers in Chicago and got all her CFI stuff there. She was an IDIOT!!! I am not saying Flyers was to blame, but the first student she tried to send on a checkride, didn't have the minimum hours or an 87-10 filled out! Now, common sense tells me that no matter how much the school costs or how good or bad the instructors are, you gotta catch something that is that stupid coming through your classroom.

 

[DX Rick]

"though they DO NOT make you pay any amount up front"

The guy in Chicago told me he wanted $5,000 up front to begin my IFR training. I laughed and walked out.
They were pinched here in the Chicago area for "Paying for Certificates."
What I read in the paper, is that the students did not meet the full requirements
but they were receiving thier tickets, especially in CFI applicants.
A friend of mine was an instructor there. He had a student that could not the airplane after 90 hours. He told his student that flying was not for him, and he should save his money and find another career/hobby. He was fired because of that, the manager at DPA told him that he "was not the students accountant"

 

[350DRIVER]

Stay away..

Quality of instruction has been going downhill very quickly over the past few years and they are all about "money".

Thedude's post was pretty much right on the money.

you have been warned...


much much better instruction can be had at a much less expensive cost.

3 5 0

 

[flynryan15]

My .02 cents

Find an ATP school near you and go there they will take you from Private to MEII and save you big money. The school, airplanes and facilities are all TOP NOTCH and you will get alot of Multi time as part of your trainging.

As far as American Flyers go I know they have been having alot of problems with the Feds. I think it has todo with forging log books and training records.

But anyway goto ATP and you will love it. Don't make the mistake I made by goig somewhere else first.

 

[Bluecruiser]

Avoid that flight school...

Not sure if anyone is still reading this thread...but nonetheless....

I was employed with American Flyers as well--in a dual capacity (I both instructed and did administrative work). My reasons are many, but I would avoid spending your money and time there...if you really want to spend $45K on Part 141 go to Flight Safey International or somewhere similar. American Flyers IS DEFINITELY all about the money and their training is very hurried and incomplete in my opinion. My training was done elsewhere, thankfully. I was amazed at the attitudes the instructors had about the students...very few were concerned about a student's success, period. Instructor moral within the company is terrible. Most were more concerned with being able to pay their bills that month or getting reprimanded b/c they failed to wear a neck-tie in the school parking lot. It is a bad place to train, a bad place to work, and the school nationwide carries a poor reputation. BTW--this is not isolated to one state or location....I saw this at every location I visited. Thankfully I had a much better job opportunity come my way.

I hope that helps.....